Bjornsons realizing dream of winery in Eola-Amity hills

Pattie and Mark Bjornson began construction on their winery in 2013 and got occupancy in the wine-making area of the facility five days before the grapes came in the door in 2014.(Photo: Victor Panichkul / Statesman Journal)Buy Photo

Like many who came before them, Mark and Pattie Bjornson moved to Oregon to chase a dream of planting a vineyard and starting a winery.

The couple met in Minneapolis in 1985 while attending the University of Minnesota. After they got married, they couldn't take a honeymoon but later took a leave from their jobs, hers in the IT business and his in the health insurance business.

"We flew to Europe and took a month-long biking trip down the Rhine and Mosel river, and we stayed at a lot of beautiful vineyards and wineries and got bitten by the wine bug on the trip," Pattie said.

Before then, the couple had dreamed of one day having a hobby farm. After the trip, instead of a hobby farm, they decided they wanted a vineyard.

"So we would come out to Oregon on our vacations, and we would look for land."

In 2005, they were working in Minneapolis when they pulled up stakes and headed for Oregon.

Pattie left the IT business, and Mark came out to Oregon to start laying the groundwork for the Western region for United Health Group. He later got a job as an executive with the Catholic Health Initiative in Portland.

The couple got to know the area, and in 2006, using funds from Mark's stock options as an executive with United Health, the couple was able to purchase 107 acres in the Eola Amity AVA near Bethel Heights Road. That fall, they began taking courses at the Northwest Wine Studies Center at Chemeketa.

The couple planted the first block that fall, and the first vintage they made was the 2009 vintage.

The first vintage, the 2009, was made by winemaker Aaron Hess at 12th and Maple Wine Co. in Dundee. The 2010 and 2011 vintage was made by John Grochau of Grochau Cellars. Beginning in 2012, Pattie began making a few barrels at Bjornson, while the majority of the wine was made by Grochau Cellars. Finally, after gaining partial occupancy of their winery in 2014, Pattie took over as winemaker.

"In 2013, we finally began construction on the wine-making facility and got occupancy in the wine-making area of the facility five days before the grapes came in the door in 2014," Pattie said.

“One of the things I really love is the camaraderie that is unique to the Oregon wine industry. We've had the luxury of asking questions of anybody and everybody, and they've given us guidance. ”

Patti Bjornson

The tasting room is still under construction, and the couple have partial occupancy of the facility, the wine-making areas. They're hoping that the tasting room will be finished next year.

"Mark pretty much handles the vineyard side and selling the grapes. At this point, we sell a lot of our grapes," Pattie said.

Mark still has his day job but hopes to transition eventually full time to the winery business.

Pattie has rolled up her sleeve at gotten involved from the get-go, working with the Eola Amity Hills AVA when it was just starting. She also helped organize Equinox, an annual wine-tasting event that showcased the wineries of the Eola-Amity area.

"I really believe in this area. I want it to succeed. If it succeeds, it's going to help us too," Pattie said

"One of the things I really love is the camaraderie that is unique to the Oregon wine industry. We've had the luxury of asking questions of anybody and everybody, and they've given us guidance. And having worked in more competitive world, it's just really refreshing and a lot of fun."

The tasting room at Bjornson Vineyard is still under construction. Pattie and Mark Bjornson hope it will be finished in 2016.(Photo: Victor Panichkul / Statesman Journal)

As the couple's plans at the Bjornson estate vineyard and winery take shape, they're also looking farther afield.

"We just bought a property in the Van Duzer corridor near Van Duzer Vineyards. It's 245 acres," Mark said. "We're selling 80 acres and the house that's on the property and will retain 165 acres, and almost 100 acres of that is vineyard-suitable."

"I like planting grapes. I'll probably be doing it until I'm 90," Mark said. When he finished planting the Bjornson estate vineyard, he started to feel melancholy. "I started walking back to the house and was kinda sad that I wouldn't be planting anymore vineyards. Now I've got enough to keep me going for a while," he said.

At the Van Duzer vineyard, Mark has plans to try planting some other varieties such as melon de Bourgogne, pinot blanc, gamay noir and gruet blanc, a parent of chardonnay, as well as tempranillo, syrah, Mondeuse noire, a red wine of the Savoy region and gewurztraminer.

"I've always liked growing things," Mark said. "I started gardening as a child growing up in Bismark, North Dakota."

"The progress on our winery is sometimes frustrating to me," Pattie said. "It's so slow. But looking back now, it's like we've moved at light speed. It's been a whirlwind."

"I think it's important to have a goal and work towards your goal, but it's also important to look back in the rear view mirror and celebrate your accomplishments."

Victor Panichkul is wine, food and beer columnist for the Statesman Journal. Reach him at (503) 399-6704, Vpanichkul@StatesmanJournal.com, follow at Facebook.com/WillametteValleyFoodWine and on Twitter @TasteofOregon.

If you go

Address: 3635 Bethel Heights Road NW

Phone: (503) 877-8189

Tasting room: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day